Wine Bottle Votif Candle Holders

Here’s a pretty simple project that turns out great and inspires a lot of questions and compliments.

First you need to remove the bottom of the wine bottles – I invested in a horizontal cutter as found on the internet – Click here.

I found that by just scribing the ring around the bottom of the wine bottle lightly, I get better results.

Next use two of your wife’s best large soup kettles. Fill one halfway with water and put it on the stove and bring to boil. Fill the other with lots of ice and water. I recommend using Gloves and safety glasses for this step. Place wine bottle into boiling water and allow to heat sufficiently. Then remove and immediately insert into the ice water. The desired result is a clean break and the bottom of the wine bottle will come off in the cold water. It may be necessary to repeat the process a couple times.

Don’t become discouraged if your bottles crack up the side – That is just the nature of the hobby! I have found that I have better success with the thinner wine bottles than the thick ones. After practice you will also begin to know which brands work better than others to get clean breaks (Yellow Tail seems to work very well for me, while I avoid Lakeridge Winery because the bottles are thick or the type of glass they use makes it almost impossible for me to get a clean break. With practice and experience, I am now getting an 80% success rate in getting a clean separation.

Also note as a byproduct of this process, you have a nicely trimmed bottom of the wine bottle. Use emery cloth and clean off the rough edges and use your imagination as to how you can use this,,, paper clip tray, ash tray, soap dish, etc.

After you have successfully cut your bottle, you need to construct your votive candle holders. You will want perhaps three separate heights for a set of three bottles.

The first style I created came from using 3/4” square finishing wood acquired from the Big Box store. Cut four legs for each stand, I used 1 1/2”, 3”, and 4 1/2” for my heights. I then used the drill press and drilled 1/4” holes for the 1/4” dowel rods that gave each unit stability.

I really racked my brain as to what type of platform I could use to set the candle and the wine bottle on. It cannot be a solid platform because you need air to feed the burning candle. One day walking through the Big Box store I found my answer in the rain gutter department. I bought a roll of the wire mesh that you use to keep leaves out of the gutter, then cut that to size and it works perfect. Spray paint the holders what ever color you want and you have a great conversation piece!

I developed another type of candle holder that is less labor intensive than all the measuring, drilling, etc. Use 3” diameter PVC pipe (thick wall). for the platform itself, buy the safety cap that inserts in the inside diameter. Glue that in place, then use a 1/2” forsner bit to drill your air supply holes in the platform. Also drill several air supply holes around the base of the PVC pipe to allow air intake. Paint the finished product to color of your wife’s choice! This makes an interesting project and doesn’t require a substantial amount of time.

-- "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind... and you shall love your neighbor as yourself"

What a great idea. Thank you for telling about this tool. I keep reading about your 2nd candle holder, but I think I will need to see a picture…just can’t get my head around it….can you please post info and pictures.

By the way, thank you for all the detail you provided…that and pictures always helps me